All 29 Opponents To Visit Pepsi Center; Schedule Features 20 Home “Weekend” Games

The National Hockey League announced its 2013-14 regular season schedule today, with the Colorado Avalanche set to open the season on Oct. 2 against the Anaheim Ducks at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche’s schedule includes 20 home "weekend" games and features all 29 opponents visiting Denver.

This year marks the first time that all 29 opponents will visit Pepsi Center since the league expanded to 30 teams in 2000-01. The Avs will also visit every NHL city this year, the first time that has occurred since 1997-98.

Out of the 20 “weekend” games at Pepsi Center, seven will be played on Fridays, eight on Saturdays and five on Sundays.

Fans can secure the best season seat locations and prices for the 2013-14 campaign today by visiting ColoradoAvalanche.com or by calling 303-4AVS.NHL.

Colorado will be competing in the Central Division of the Western Conference, which includes Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg.

For the upcoming season, the new division format will have the Avalanche play 28 games within the division, 22 games against the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and 32 total games against teams from the Eastern Conference.

The league will take a break in the schedule from Feb. 9-25 for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. This year marks the fifth consecutive Olympics that NHL players have participated in.

Colorado will have a total of 10 back-to-back games this season. The Avalanche’s longest homestand is seven games (Dec. 29 to Jan. 10), while the longest road trip is four games (Feb. 3-8 and April 8-13). The Avs will conclude their 2013-14 schedule on April 13 at Anaheim.

In addition to its regular season schedule, the Avalanche also announced today its preseason schedule. Colorado will play the first of six exhibition contests on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when they host the Ducks at Pepsi Center. Colorado will have three home preseason games, two road contests and one neutral site. The Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings will play their annual Frozen Fury in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the MGM Grand.

The complete broadcast schedule, including Altitude Sports & Entertainment telecasts, and information regarding the on-sale dates for preseason and regular season tickets will be released in the near future.